Related
I've been reading the forum, and based on the information and the tools there I have been able to modify my extended ROM, which is great. Now of course I'd like to modify the main ROM as well, but despite the many hours I've spent searching the forum, I can't find the necessary information to do it. There's always something essential missing, something which probably is obvious to a programmer, but not to a normal user. As I've been able to modify the extended ROM, I guess I should be able to modify the main ROM too. Who can point me in the right direction?
from what i understand it's not even 100% possible with xda1 since people cant seem to make the extracted files back to a nbf file
and there are no tools that i know of that even extract the main rom from a xda2
As I understand it, when you upgrade the operating system, you're actually modifying the ROM. Some people here like to call it to "flash", I think, and there are a lot of messages about it in here. I just haven't found the information necessary to do it. I want to modify the ROM on my XDAII.
no the operating system is the rom which is in a eeprom in the device
when you flash the rom you replace the operating system with the new one
when you say modifying it mean more in the way of exchanging different files inside the rom
but if you just mean flashing the rom with a newer then here is a guide
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/wiki/HimalayaRomFlashing
What does EEP stand for? How many ROMs are there?
I've seen a ROM created here for the XDAI, containing more programs than what the devices normally come with. I would like to have a ROM on my XDAII containing the programs I use, so that I don't need to reinstall them every time the device is hard reset. Isn't this possible?
What does EEP stand for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
huh what does EEP have to do with this ?
suppose it could stand for
Executive Excellence Publishing
or
European Environmental Press
how many roms there are i think there are 1.5 1.6 1.66 and 1.72
about extra programs then they are not! in the rom they are in the extended rom any CAB file you copy to the extented will install after automatic after a hardreset
you should take a look at the romkitchens ( specifically for xda1, but can be made for xda2 as well ).
and mkrom, and the other romtools
EEPROM stands for "electrically erasable programmable read only memory".
this is sort of the predecessor of flash memory.
"electrically erasable programmable read only memory" sounds like a contradiction, but thanks for that, it makes more sense than EEPROM.
What about all of us users who don't have a Unix machine? I suppose we're stuck with the original ROM then, and have to install our programs over and over again for every hard reset. Of course you can put a few of them in the extended ROM, but it becomes full too quickly and you're left with installing the rest of them manually.
well you can upgrade to a newer rom as they come out
like i have 1.66 but if i wanted 1.72 i could upgrade
about contradiction heh yeah suppose so but then if it was 100% always READ ONLY then it would be random was what in it as how the transistors randomly set when it was produced
A newer ROM wouldn't contain the programs I want.
no :/ but it could contain bug fixes for ms and radiostack and such
i suspect that extented rom was made so it would be easier for the phonecompanys' and other 3th party resellers to get programs preinstalled fast without having to mess around too much in the rom
this is at the cost of memory though
but then some programs dident like to be in the rom i believe here i mean if setting files were places in the rom aswell and the program could not write to the setting file
mkrom also works on cygwin under windows.
( now I also wrote this in the wiki page )
Isn't that just for XDA I?
it works for windows ce in general.
that doesn't mean that there is no work involved in getting it to work, but it is possible to make it work for the xda2. I use it to build custom roms for the devices we sell, that is why I wrote it in the first place.
What's cygwin?
How much space is there in the ROM to add extra programs? In the ROM that this forum developed for XDA I they added quite many programs from what I could see.
http://www.google.dk/search?hl=da&ie=UTF-8&q=cygwin&btnG=Google-søgning
Thanks for that, Rudegar.
To Itsme: I don't mind the work, but it looks like its written for programmers and that if you're not a fairly skilled programmer, you wouldn't be able to do it.
and Who is The BEST ROM ?
There is no such thing as a "best ROM" - it's all up to personal preference
Hi -
There is no one right ROM for Trinity. Here's a quick explanation for what a ROM really is. There are many people on this board who know more about ROMs than I do, so if anyone sees any errors in what I've written, please let me know.
A ROM is a collection of software packaged together that when flashed to your phone installs the software. ROM packages generally consist of four categories of software:
1.) An operating system (some flavor of Windows Mobile, 5 or 6)
2.) Radio software (Radio ROM)
3.) Phone software (Dialer, Task Manager, Multimedia, SMS/MMS software, contact list)
4.) All other software (Adobe Reader, TomTom, etc.)
People create new ROM packages by gathering an operating system, a radio, and a collection of software, and "cooking" them into a single distribution file, usually in the form of a CAB compression file.
The differences between AXL and Mary are in the OS, radio and other software they have mixed together. You have to look at the contents of each ROM yourself and compare to see the exact differences. Although it would be nice, I'm not aware of anyone listing out the differences between the software choices made by each of the main ROM cookers, so you have to do it yourself.
Some important notes on ROM packages:
1.) Any software that is "cooked" into the ROM can't be removed or updated, it's in there permanently until you change your ROM. This is something to consider if you want to be able to upgrade to future versions, and is the reaosn many ROM cookers also make a "lite" version of their ROM.
2.) I'm pretty weak on this, but from what I understand in addition to the normal physical ROM memory, there is a section of physical ROM called "hidden" or "extended" ROM, and the cookers have figured out how to make that ROM available for use. This is why some ROMs show 70+ megs of ROM/RAM available. I think this extended ROM can also be used to store software.
3.) The operating systems (OS's) do continue to change. People get new phones from their telecom operator, and when they dissassemble the phone's ROM, they can extract the new OS's and check the version numbers. There is no way I know of currently to update the OS without flashing a completely new ROM. Different ROMs include different versions of the operating system, although many of the ROM cookers are quick to re-release their ROMs when a new OS comes out.
4.) Any software that can be installed manually can be installed in a ROM. This includes "trial" or "unregistered" versions. For that software, it may be installed on your phone when you install the ROM, but it is a limited-use version and you will need to purchase the software and get a registration code to unlock the full software. If the software is "cooked" into your ROM and you decide not to use it, YOU CAN'T UNINSTALL IT without reflashing to a new ROM. It won't do any harm, but it will use up memory that could be put to better use.
5.) A suggestion on other software: If you flash your OS often, it makes things easier to keep copies of the CAB files for your favorite other cab installations on your SD card, so you can easily reinstall them when you reflash the OS.
6.) Most of the ROMs use the same installer software,which works well and can recover from some errors (just follow the instructions or if no instructions retry the flash procedure). However, some telecom operators install something called a Service Provider Lock (SPL) to prevent people from installing "unapproved" software on their phone. Removing or otherwise getting around this SPL is a process called "unlocking" - if you try to reflash your phone's ROM, and something goes wrong, this SPL could prevent you from being able to fix your phone, making it useless (or "bricked"). There are software packages that should be able to fix a bricked phone (search the board to find), but it is easier to remove the SPL first, so you never have to worry about crashing your phone.
7.) If you remove your SPL, you have technically violated the terms of your contract with your service provider!!!! In daily use, it really doesn't affect them, so they probably won't make a stink about it, and probably can't tell you've done so. But, if you bring it in for service, send it in under warranty, call their service line to get support, the technician will probably see you have removed your SPL, and can refuse to provide service or warranty support. However, the techs are people and depending on the issue may or may not make a big deal about it, but it's certainly within their right to refuse to service for free.
8.) There are differences in telecom providers!!! This is particularly important with respect to Radio ROMs. If you think about it, your phone has to send the right signals to your service provider's radio tower to make a call. The specific information it has to send and the manner in which it sends it are determined by the radio protocol, which is built into the radio software. As a result, some radio software will not work with some providers, and some will work better than others. This difference willbe regional, so consider where you will be using the phone (Asia, Europe, SA, Africa, NA). Some radios could even be configured to specific providers (but I don't know for sure).
9.) Latest vs. most stable - sometimes, the latest versions introduce new bugsor are less stable than others, so consider this as well.
10.) Most of the differences between the ROMs seem to revolve aroudn the cooker's choices for phone software - the dialers, the contact managers, etc. These primarily change the "look and feel" of the phone rather than the raw performance or capabilites. Since look and feel is the big difference, it's impossible to say which look and feel everyone will like - it's a matter of taste / personal preference.
11.) Don't bug the cookers!!!! The people cooking ROMs for us are doing it in their spare time. They're not getting paid to do it, they're just trying to help each other out. While they seem to be interested in hearing about bugs so they can fix their ROMs, pestering them with requests to make some piddly change just for you is rude. Don't pester them with change requests and customizations, and then throw a hissy fit when they don't want to do it your way. If you don't like their ROM, then cook your own.
So, to pick the ROM that works for you, you're probably going to have to try a few out. The combination of OS and Radio will likely be regional (some will not be able to use the latest radio, for example), and form there on in you have to choose which has the dialer/contact manager you like the most, and includes the software you want to have (or go with a lite version).
Good luck!
Mike
to Mike (landshark),
thank you and congratulations on your excellent explanation. I wish I read this when I bought my device, would make things much easier.
Great post!!!!
Good work!!!!
will be very usefull!
Thank you!
Wonderful post!!!!
Beautiful work!!!!
will be bloody usefull!
Orz
Sticky pls !
Thanks! Very useful for a noob like me
Question about SSPL
landshark said:
Hi -
There is no one right ROM for Trinity. Here's a quick explanation for what a ROM really is. There are many people on this board who know more about ROMs than I do, so if anyone sees any errors in what I've written, please let me know.
A ROM is a collection of software packaged together that when flashed to your phone installs the software. ROM packages generally consist of four categories of software:
1.) An operating system (some flavor of Windows Mobile, 5 or 6)
2.) Radio software (Radio ROM)
3.) Phone software (Dialer, Task Manager, Multimedia, SMS/MMS software, contact list)
4.) All other software (Adobe Reader, TomTom, etc.)
People create new ROM packages by gathering an operating system, a radio, and a collection of software, and "cooking" them into a single distribution file, usually in the form of a CAB compression file.
The differences between AXL and Mary are in the OS, radio and other software they have mixed together. You have to look at the contents of each ROM yourself and compare to see the exact differences. Although it would be nice, I'm not aware of anyone listing out the differences between the software choices made by each of the main ROM cookers, so you have to do it yourself.
Some important notes on ROM packages:
1.) Any software that is "cooked" into the ROM can't be removed or updated, it's in there permanently until you change your ROM. This is something to consider if you want to be able to upgrade to future versions, and is the reaosn many ROM cookers also make a "lite" version of their ROM.
2.) I'm pretty weak on this, but from what I understand in addition to the normal physical ROM memory, there is a section of physical ROM called "hidden" or "extended" ROM, and the cookers have figured out how to make that ROM available for use. This is why some ROMs show 70+ megs of ROM/RAM available. I think this extended ROM can also be used to store software.
3.) The operating systems (OS's) do continue to change. People get new phones from their telecom operator, and when they dissassemble the phone's ROM, they can extract the new OS's and check the version numbers. There is no way I know of currently to update the OS without flashing a completely new ROM. Different ROMs include different versions of the operating system, although many of the ROM cookers are quick to re-release their ROMs when a new OS comes out.
4.) Any software that can be installed manually can be installed in a ROM. This includes "trial" or "unregistered" versions. For that software, it may be installed on your phone when you install the ROM, but it is a limited-use version and you will need to purchase the software and get a registration code to unlock the full software. If the software is "cooked" into your ROM and you decide not to use it, YOU CAN'T UNINSTALL IT without reflashing to a new ROM. It won't do any harm, but it will use up memory that could be put to better use.
5.) A suggestion on other software: If you flash your OS often, it makes things easier to keep copies of the CAB files for your favorite other cab installations on your SD card, so you can easily reinstall them when you reflash the OS.
6.) Most of the ROMs use the same installer software,which works well and can recover from some errors (just follow the instructions or if no instructions retry the flash procedure). However, some telecom operators install something called a Service Provider Lock (SPL) to prevent people from installing "unapproved" software on their phone. Removing or otherwise getting around this SPL is a process called "unlocking" - if you try to reflash your phone's ROM, and something goes wrong, this SPL could prevent you from being able to fix your phone, making it useless (or "bricked"). There are software packages that should be able to fix a bricked phone (search the board to find), but it is easier to remove the SPL first, so you never have to worry about crashing your phone.
7.) If you remove your SPL, you have technically violated the terms of your contract with your service provider!!!! In daily use, it really doesn't affect them, so they probably won't make a stink about it, and probably can't tell you've done so. But, if you bring it in for service, send it in under warranty, call their service line to get support, the technician will probably see you have removed your SPL, and can refuse to provide service or warranty support. However, the techs are people and depending on the issue may or may not make a big deal about it, but it's certainly within their right to refuse to service for free.
8.) There are differences in telecom providers!!! This is particularly important with respect to Radio ROMs. If you think about it, your phone has to send the right signals to your service provider's radio tower to make a call. The specific information it has to send and the manner in which it sends it are determined by the radio protocol, which is built into the radio software. As a result, some radio software will not work with some providers, and some will work better than others. This difference willbe regional, so consider where you will be using the phone (Asia, Europe, SA, Africa, NA). Some radios could even be configured to specific providers (but I don't know for sure).
9.) Latest vs. most stable - sometimes, the latest versions introduce new bugsor are less stable than others, so consider this as well.
10.) Most of the differences between the ROMs seem to revolve aroudn the cooker's choices for phone software - the dialers, the contact managers, etc. These primarily change the "look and feel" of the phone rather than the raw performance or capabilites. Since look and feel is the big difference, it's impossible to say which look and feel everyone will like - it's a matter of taste / personal preference.
11.) Don't bug the cookers!!!! The people cooking ROMs for us are doing it in their spare time. They're not getting paid to do it, they're just trying to help each other out. While they seem to be interested in hearing about bugs so they can fix their ROMs, pestering them with requests to make some piddly change just for you is rude. Don't pester them with change requests and customizations, and then throw a hissy fit when they don't want to do it your way. If you don't like their ROM, then cook your own.
So, to pick the ROM that works for you, you're probably going to have to try a few out. The combination of OS and Radio will likely be regional (some will not be able to use the latest radio, for example), and form there on in you have to choose which has the dialer/contact manager you like the most, and includes the software you want to have (or go with a lite version).
Good luck!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sow basicly if I use Soft SPL and install a rom that has no radio and something goes wrong I can return to my original ROM. Is that right?
Thread renamed: added [Q] tag.
Please read the Announcements in the forums regarding posting rules!
so...my idea goes like this...
1.what is the first thing u think of after your device got lost\stolen??
W.I.M.P (or any other anti theft program)
2.what is the second thing u think of???
what if the person who found\stole my device performed HR(?!)..
ok so what i was thinking of is having a way to change\modify the buttons sequence (witch every body knows) to perform HR so it will be like your own locking code..
****************
another thing that have to be done in order to prevent unwanted HR is to change the "1234" numbers u r being asked to enter when trying HR from the software to a personal code...
****************
unfortunately..i dont have this kind of tools and knowledge to do it so i'm asking u guys...
plz check it out !! it will upgrade the whole security issue...
Well there is also a thing like Clear Storage under the settings page wich also does a hard reset.
u missed the point..i'm not looking for another ways to HR....
no, but a thief can use that instead.
Or upload a program to do a HR.
Best thing to do is to bake WIMP in your ROM so it will be active after a HR. And get a sort of 'own signed' HardSPL so your thief can not flash it.
But I think he could flash the HardSPL, anyway, i think not many thieves come that far
good point !
but where is this coded ?
it must be before device loads bootloader ?! and if so - this is then hardcoded on the mb ... which maybe a bit tricky to change..
but i am sure we do have some more into deep guys on board .. so why not give it a try .. and brick another device ;-)
I think olinex can fix a way to 'sign' a rom with your code, so the hardspl can only flash roms that are signed with YOUR code. Building those roms is not very hard from existing ones I guess.
I am only curious, if the device can be locked in that way so no SPL can be changed (without password/right code/right SPL rom). I don't think that is possible.
Building a functional ROM with antitheft program full running is not hard.
Also make sure, the antitheft program can't be killed by advanced taskmanagers.
At first, it should stay invisible.
But, unless an XDA-noob steals your phone, don't be worried. Just a hard-reset surviving should be enough for 99% of the thieves. No 'simple' thief will know about reflashing and SPL
This looks promising! keep up the ideas!!!
YOu might want to look at this: http://www.pocketpc-live.com/pocketpc-softwares/ultimate-theft-alert-v3-for-pocket-pcs.html
i know it does not do what yo want, but i thought you may find it interesting because if there is some type of security development the messaging and locking features from her are very nice.
how hard will it be to take the official 1.93.456.2 rom and add W.I.M.P to it by cooking???
any links for a guide plz?
Maybe you can try cooking Ultimate Theft Alert v35! into it. Already guides are there which can me modified for diamond. Look here and here.
Regards,
Carty..
Carty said:
Maybe you can try cooking Ultimate Theft Alert v35! into it. Already guides are there which can me modified for diamond. Look here and here.
Regards,
Carty..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow read all of that seems pretty freaking neet
Thanks
Regards,
Carty..
I'm not a programmer....
but i think it's simple.. should go something like this:
Code:
if (diamond.stolen) ;
then do "change HR combination" ;
for i in buttons do
buttons.change;
end
i wish i had known more about it and have the guts to try it
ok....i was thinking about it while showering...
when u do "clear storage" u r being asked to enter "1234" to confirm...
all we need to do is change it too....
now...if we change the HR buttons sequence and the numbers to enter for HR from the software......what other way to HR u can use????
i think this is the best solution...
anyone know how to do it?
I recall reading a little while back a message (somewhere, sorry for not remembering) that there was a way (if i remember correctly) to make a ROM Update Utility that wouldn't harm the data on the phone (excluding MicroSD which we have to remove when updating). I don't know the truth to this, but the idea behind being able to upgrade roms and keep personal data (and maybe installed applications) is cool. I know that whenever I upgrade roms the biggest part is reinstallation of my programs (it gets very annoying!). Its not so annoying that i want to toss my Dash against the wall, I just don't like having to do it over and over again (especially with new roms and updates coming out).
Essentially, having to reinstall, and re-setup, my phone with each ROM update is really what keeps me from upgrading a big part of the time (ie: going from the Energy Rom to Ookba's new 3vo ROM). Is there any way to be able to make this process of reinstallation easier?
Have a look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=520009
orb3000 said:
Have a look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=520009
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was exactly the link I had looked at (and apparently not too long ago either). I read through a good part of it, but its past Midnight here, and I am drowsy beyond belief , so I didn't make much sense of any of it. Essentially I don't cook roms, and it mentioned something about the chef having to make the RUU in a specific way (correct?). Is this in our near future?
Da_G alread made a test ROM and updated the ROM sucessfully for the Raphael. I'm sure our smartphones aren't too far from getting it either. They just have to make some tools for us chefs to use it in our kitchens now Soon.
NRGZ28 said:
Da_G alread made a test ROM and updated the ROM sucessfully for the Raphael. I'm sure our smartphones aren't too far from getting it either. They just have to make some tools for us chefs to use it in our kitchens now Soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Its great to know how active this community is (even for an old-er phone like this )
Keep up the work all you EXCELLET chefs, devs, hackers, programmers, and any other division of making this phone better
Can I use a ROM from one model phone to another. Ex. can I use the ROM from a Blackstone and use it on a Fuze? I know I can use the blackstone radio but how about the ROM?
thanks
fuzeman219 said:
Can I use a ROM from one model phone to another. Ex. can I use the ROM from a Blackstone and use it on a Fuze? I know I can use the blackstone radio but how about the ROM?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO!
You can't use another device ROM or RADIO.
thank you sir, but you say you cant use the radio either? in other forums people are using different radios, ex. blackstone radio on a raphael, (fuze)
Yes you can use radios in 2 cases:
1) the radios are compatible. If you're not sure, don't flash it.
2) the phone is security unlocked.
Also, to use a ROM from another device it must be dumped and then ported in a Kitchen, you can't just flash it. The Kernel's and drivers just won't work.
Dave
Well, a teacher I had, always told "you can, but you must not". You can jump down from the roof of a highscraper, but you should not have to do it...
So, you MUST NOT flash a ROM of a device into another different one. Yes, you have tools to do it, but you'll probably get an electronic brick to put in any hole of a brick wall.
There's a part of the ROM which is specific for the device. Another part is specific for the OS. So, some parts of a ROM are related to WM6.1 or WM6.5, etc. and some others are related to a device. That's what is called the Kernel, mainly related to a nk.exe file inside the ROM files. In example, we can run WM6.5 into a Kaiser with a nk.exe belonging to a kaiser and WM6.1... BUT for running same OS of a different device, (i.e. Opal's WM6.1 into Kaiser) you'll completely inutilize (maybe forever) the device. Yes, you can do it if sou have enough money to buy another device, but if you don't want it, I suggest you to send me your device or give it for charity, but not to destroy it.
Another thing you can do is, as you were told, "dumping" the ROM, this is extracting all the files and structure, and then port it (this is, adapting it) to your device's needs - this means, getting your specific drivers and kernel files and substituting them into the folders you obtained of the ROM. (Also, getting the correct screen resolution files). In example, nk.exe and other files will be different for a Kaiser and for a Herald. And you should have different Camera files, as the drivers are different for one device and the other one. Also, a Touch HD uses different screen resolution that a Herald... so you must find the correct files for every device.
This looong post is to tell you that using ROMs from other phones is RISKY and also it GETS LOTS OF JOB (and TIME), and you'll always miss something. Only good, big teams, like to do it, not an only person. And they spend days, weeks, and must correct bugs and make trials and risk their devices even if they have lots of experience.
thanks
thanks folks, makes complete sense..
this leads to another question, how do you know if the radio is compatible with another device, ex. the blackstone radio with a raphael? I know the simple answer is to read the forums, which I have, but besides taking someones word for it, how do you know?
fuzeman219 said:
thanks folks, makes complete sense..
this leads to another question, how do you know if the radio is compatible with another device, ex. the blackstone radio with a raphael? I know the simple answer is to read the forums, which I have, but besides taking someones word for it, how do you know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to know about the chips in the phone and what's in the radio firmwhere, I leave it upto the experts .
Just take peoples word for it, if in doubt, don't use it.
Dave